Decatur police make arrest in June 10 stabbing incident

DECATUR -- Jason G. Serrano-Rodriguez, 37, was arrested in connection with a June 10 stabbing at the Hidden Springs Apartments in Decatur.

According to police reports, Decatur police officers responded to a disturbance call at the Hidden Springs Apartments in northwest Decatur June 10. When Officer Austin Hill arrived at 709 Hidden Springs Drive, Apartment 33, at around 8:23 a.m., he immediately noticed a trail of blood leading to that residence. A group of neighboring residents standing outside the apartment told Hill that two males had gotten into a fist fight.

According to police, Rodriguez and Jesus Ortiz were allegedly drinking in the apartment when Rodriguez became angry and challenged Ortiz to a fight. The two then went outside the residence, where Ortiz allegedly struck Rodriguez in the face several times, knocking him to the ground. Two bystanders separated the men, police said.

Ortiz allegedly continued to taunt Rodriguez until Rodriguez became enraged and returned to the apartment and retrieved a knife from the kitchen. Rodriguez then allegedly chased Ortiz up a flight of steps across from his apartment. At the top of the stairs, Ortiz turned and was allegedly stabbed in the abdomen by Rodriguez, according to police.

Ortiz was transported by a neighbor to the hospital in Siloam Springs, were he was treated and later released.

Rodriquez was arrested by Decatur Police and transported to the Benton County Jail in connection with felony charges of aggravated assault and battery, according to police.